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Centre
Write
Autumn 2017
Conservatism
refresh
The Rt Hon Justine Greening MP | Jacob Rees-Mogg MP | The Rt Hon Ken Clarke MP | Sir Craig Oliver
Photo: Save the Children/Jonathan Hyams
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Tuesday 3 October Paul Goodman
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CONTENS 3
Contents
EDITORIAL Brexit together
Editor’s letter Syed Kamall MEP 12
Laura Round 5
Director’s note SUCCESSFUL CONSERVATISM
Ryan Shorthouse 6 Her secret...
Letters to the editor 7 Lord Willetts 16
Beware Corbyn
CONSERVATISM AT A CROSSROADS Kate Maltby 18
Contents for conservatism End of the insurgency?
Julian Glover 8 Douglas Carswell 19
Time for more state? Dialogue with Lord Finkelstein, Nicky
Sam Bowman and David Skelton 10 Morgan, Jacob Rees-Mogg & Craig Oliver 20
Page 8 Julian Glover Page 34 The Rt
explores what’s next Hon Ken Clarke
Bright Blue is an independent for conservatism MP reflects on his
think tank and pressure group time in parliament
for liberal conservatism.
Director: Ryan Shorthouse
Page 28 The Centre Write
Chair: Matthew d’Ancona interview: The Rt Hon
Board of Directors: Rachel Johnson, Justine Greening MP
Alexandra Jezeph, Diane Banks,
Phil Clarke & Richard Mabey
Editor: Laura Round
brightblue.org.uk
Print: Aquatint | aquatint.co.uk
Design: Eleanor Hyland-Stanbrook
CONTENTS 4
CONSERVATISM ABROAD The Centre Write interview: BOOKS & ARTS
Magician Macron? The Rt Hon Justine Greening MP 28 Exhibiton: Rachel Whiteread
Rupert Myers 24 A big splash of green Laura Round with the Rt Hon Matt
Conservatism across the Atlantic Sam Hall 30 Hancock MP 36
Ted Bromund 25 Attracting BME voters 2017: The year in political books
James Dobson 32 Diane Banks 38
BRIGHT BLUE POLITICS Profile: The Rt Hon Ken Winning hearts and minds
An update from our Chair Clarke MP (Sir Oliver Letwin MP)
Matthew d’Ancona 27 Laura Round 34 Ryan Shorthouse 39
Page 24 Rupert
Myers on lessons we
can learn from Macron
Page 36 Laura Round visits the
new Tate Britain exhibition with the
Rt Hon Matt Hancock MP
Page 16 Lord Willetts on the
secrets to Thatcher’s success
EDITORIAL 5
Laura Round is the
Editor’s letter Editor of Centre Write and
Communications Manager
at Bright Blue
T
he centre-right is in trouble: capitalism is under attack Former MP Douglas Carswell (p.19) explores whether there
from the socialist left, young voters have deserted the is still an electoral threat for the Conservative Party from the
Conservative Party and many liberal conservatives are populist right after the EU Referendum. And, just in case you’ve
feeling politically neglected. forgotten, negotiating Brexit is the biggest challenge facing
First Secretary of State, the Rt Hon Damian Green MP, the Government today: London’s MEP Syed Kamall (p.12)
recently echoed these concerns at Bright Blue’s annual recognises that wounds from the Referendum are still healing but
conference, saying the Conservative Party is going to have to urges ’Leave’ and ‘Remain’ conservatives to unite.
“change hard” if it wants to win a majority at the next general
election. “It’s time for the centre-right to come
Targeting working-class Labour and UKIP voters by trading together to fight the real threat of
off socially liberal voters was a gamble that lost the Conservative socialism in modern Britain.”
Party its majority. Economic and social liberalism appeals to
the younger generations, yet this liberal conservatism has been There is no inherent reason young people should be more
rejected by the Prime Minister over the past year. These are attracted to left-wing thinking, let alone a hard-left, socialist
points reiterated by our Chair, Matthew d’Ancona (p.27), who candidate. Yet, worryingly, the under 45s overwhelmingly
argues liberal conservatism is needed now, more than ever. believe the Labour Party have the answers when it comes
This edition of Centre Write explores the challenges facing to issues such as housing, tax, unemployment and the
conservatism today, drawing from many different voices on the economy. I asked a number of conservative politicians and
right. thinkers, including the Rt Hon Sajid Javid MP and Lord
Heseltine, what they believe are the biggest challenges facing
“The Conservative Party is going to have to conservatism (p.14).
‘change hard’ if it wants to win a majority These debates aren’t taking place in Britain alone.
at the next general election.” Ted Bromund (p.25) from the US think tank the Heritage
Foundation explains that the challenges facing conservatism in
Julian Glover (p.8) hopes that the conservatism which the US are structural and that a winner-takes-all style politics
encompasses a generous, liberal worldview will resurface at this is on the ascendency. Our Associate Fellow, Rupert Myers
year’s Conservative Party conference, arguing the Conservative (p.24), takes a look at France and explores what conservatives
Party needs a basic explanation of motives and ideas. In our letter can learn from President Macron’s success.
exchange (p.10), Sam Bowman from the Adam Smith Institute and In the Centre Write interview, Education Secretary the Rt Hon
David Skelton from Renewal go head to head to debate what the Justine Greening MP argues that the Conservative Party needs
role of the state should be in conservative thinking. to adapt to keep up with social change in Britain. She believes
In our new dialogue (p.20), Lord Finkelstein, the Rt Hon Nicky “the younger generations want to hear from us, and they deserve
Morgan MP, Sir Craig Oliver and Jacob Rees-Mogg MP discuss a better choice” than a socialist Labour party. Finally, I profile the
what went wrong in the last election and how to sell capitalism. With father of the House, the Rt Hon Ken Clarke MP (p.34), exploring
Jeremy Corbyn’s popularity increasing in the polls, our Associate his views on leadership, conservatism and, of course, Brexit.
Fellow Kate Maltby (p.18) urges conservatives to do a better job of It’s time for the centre-right to come together to fight the real
explaining to millennials why socialism isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. threat of socialism in modern Britain.
EDITORIAL 6
considerable influence on how prominent trends: a generation that is more likely
Director’s note people describe how society works. to believe in the importance of personal
Specifically, the propagation of identity freedom and responsibility, with support
politics, where society is perceived not for gay rights and and scepticism with
to be a collection of individuals with state welfare standing out. In other words,
Ryan Shorthouse is the differing agency, morals, experiences and most young people would probably be
Director of Bright Blue relationships, but simply of conflicting comfortable describing themselves as
social groups wrestling for power. economically and socially liberal.
Marxists started this, of course, with So, to win over the hearts and minds
the idea that the bourgeoisie had the of young people, conservatism need not
I
t wasn’t just students who voted, in proletariat in chains. But the list of victims abandon fiscal discipline or responsible
growing numbers, for a radical left- has expanded enormously over time. Blind capitalism. Rather, conservatism needs
wing alternative in this year’s general to their adoption of leftist thinking, even to embrace and champion both social
election. For everyone under the age many on the right now believe Britain liberalism and social justice. The Prime
of 47, more people voted Labour than is like The Hunger Games, with only a Minister, therefore, should do two things.
Conservative. Age rather than social class ‘liberal metropolitan elite’ benefitting and First, prioritise the development of
is now a stronger predictor for the way everyone else suffering. In vogue now, meaningful policies to tackle the ‘burning
people vote. especially among left-wing politicians injustices’ she cares deeply about.
Are younger people struggling so and organisations, is the absurd notion Second, abandon the closed — rather than
much — so poor and powerless in modern that all young people are sufferers. It is open — communitarianism she has been
Britain — that they are suddenly convinced the persistently poor, not the persistently articulating in recent years, which wrongly
socialism is the solution? Young people impatient, who we should focus our blames immigration and human rights
today do face unique challenges: sympathy and resources on. for undermining the security of ordinary
compared to their parents, it takes them Britons.
longer to buy a house and to pay for their “Conservatism needs to Conservatives should not just offer
higher education. A small and unfortunate embrace and champion young people this new vision, but practical
minority are afflicted by evils such as both social liberalism and policies too. It is no good believing, as the
mental health problems, permanent social justice.” authors of the last Tory election manifesto
poverty and homelessness. Conservatives did, that policies that take away from older
have been warned: no wonder young Even if the world is not a disaster people — for example, abandoning the
people don’t like the capitalism you for most young people, the case for Triple Lock on state pensions — will appeal
defend and represent, if they haven’t got capitalism not crumbling in front of their to younger folk. They need a positive offer.
any chance of owning capital. eyes, the Conservative Party has moved A good start would be two distinctively
Honestly, come off it: for most young further away from the priorities and Tory policies to better help young people
people, this country is a privileged values of younger generations this year. with the cost of living and housing,
place to live in, both historically and Perhaps the majority of younger folk are which they do have genuine concerns
internationally. The UK has record actually quite conservative: more fearful of about. First, raise the salary threshold
levels of employment, including youth losing the liberal Britain they enjoy, rather for repaying student loans, currently
employment. Educational attainment and than yearning for a new socialist utopia. frozen at £21,000 until 2021. Raising
entrepreneurial activity amongst the young Perhaps a bigger influence on their vote this threshold each year at least in line
continues to rise. Travel and technology this time wasn’t Corbyn’s barmy spending with average earnings would give young
have enabled amazing opportunities that and nationalising plans, but May’s graduates a Tory tax cut. Second, stamp
were unavailable for most younger people illiberal agenda encompassing a ‘hard duty should be substantially reduced, if
decades ago. They are living in a much Brexit’, tough controls on immigration, not cut entirely, for almost all first-time
more tolerant and safer society than in the downgrading of human rights and property buyers. This would reduce some
past. scepticism of ‘citizens of the world’. of the significant amount of cash young
Marxism, luckily, has had little impact Numerous attitudinal studies of young people need to save to get on to the
on Britain. But it continues to have people in recent years reveal common property ladder.
EDITORIAL 7
Letters to
the editor
Send your letters to laura@brightblue.org.uk
I am heartened to see that the urgent need to engage and enthuse
a new generation of voters with core conservative ideas is so
widely shared (‘The conservative state: small, strong and strategic’, The Conservative Government has rightly embraced the mass
Summer 2017). rollout of electric vehicles (EVs), which will reduce carbon
However, we must not underestimate this challenge. When emissions, improve air quality, and help transform our power sector
Margaret Thatcher presented her ideas in the 1970s she had the to a cleaner, more flexible grid (‘Driving off into the future’, Spring
advantage of context. She was able to successfully articulate a 2017). However, there are policy challenges to overcome if all new
positive alternative vision, against the backdrop of a daily reality vehicles are to be zero-emission by 2040.
where left-wing ideas had very clearly failed. Smart charging – the ability to feed power back into the
Today, as we present our conservative ideas to this new grid at peak times – will be essential in managing the impact
generation of voters, we lack such recent context of what a hard-left of an additional 40 million EVs on the grid. However, while the
alternative really looks like. It will therefore be up to us to provide a technology is ready, we are yet to find a model that makes sure
retrospective history lesson, to help explain why many of the left- every player, including the drivers themselves, benefit.
wing ideas being presented as new and exciting, are actually old The nature of charging itself will surely shift. Around half of
ideas re-packaged, and bad ones at that. But, herein I fear, lies a British homes have no off-street parking, and with an increasingly
danger. In providing such a history lesson there is a real risk that we urban population this looks unlikely to change. The current model
ourselves come across as sounding negative, condescending, and of relying on slow overnight charges may not be realistic without a
backwards-looking or even, dare I say it, nasty. guaranteed spot outside your front door.
This is not to say that we should not highlight the lessons of Conservatives recognise that economic growth and
history in our critique of socialism, indeed we must. But, as we do environmental preservation go hand in hand, and the manufacture
so we should also demonstrate, even more loudly, the very great of EVs in the UK can form an important part of the modern clean
merits of our own ideas so that people are enthused by our positive economy — but there’s work to do before we can make the electric
vision, rather than just convinced by our critique of the alternative. dream a reality.
Thomas Fieldhouse member of Bright Blue Sam Richards member of Bright Blue
The Rt Hon Lord Francis Maude is absolutely right to call on conservatives to re-engage with and champion the benefits of capitalism
(‘Capitalism is core to conservatism’, Summer 2017). With a radical socialism sweeping through a younger generation of new Labour voters,
now more than ever we must fight to champion the opportunities of free enterprise and business.
Through our rhetoric we must offer a vision of a united Party built on pragmatism, common sense and economic ability. Beyond this,
though, we must reach out to those voters the Prime Minister spoke to on the steps of Downing Street on her first day in office — those who
feel left behind and dispossessed by a global economic system that all too often appears alien, unaccountable and tilted in favour of the rich
and privileged.
A truly global Britain should seek to reap the benefits of globalisation but it should also not be afraid to be bold in making the economy
work for ordinary voters — calling out corporate excess and tax avoidance, closing loopholes and overhauling regulatory framework. It is
through this boldness that voters will understand capitalism’s vital role as a key component of both wealth creation and social progress. To
stray from these values is to betray not only our Party’s legacy but also the economic futures of the next generation.
James Baker member of Bright Blue and board member of the Tory Reform Group
CONSERVATISM AT A CROSSROADS 8
Julian Glover
Contents for conservatism was previously chief
speechwriter to Prime
Minister David Cameron
Beyond Brexit, what should conservatives fight for?
Julian Glover opines
T
hinking about conservatism in who reminds us of a time when liberal What a surrender that would be to both
Britain, without thinking about Brexit, Tories stood up for themselves. political extremes for this to happen now.
is becoming ever harder. The spring These people did not join the What a misrepresentation of the gentle
has been poisoned. This leaves those Conservative Party to defend the narrow conservatism that can also encompass a
of us sympathetic to a gently-sceptical, values of a declining sect. But they fear generous, liberal worldview. There are, as
generously-patriotic, largely-tolerant becoming part of one now. Maybe some of the chancellor-turned-editor says, millions
political force in favour of liberty with a them are preparing their assault, developing of people out there hoping for something
problem. ideas, finding allies, refinding a robust case better and in Parliament a majority of
Our state of permanent national anxiety for liberal conservatism. Bright Blue do Conservative MPs surely still want to offer it.
does not have to be the new normal. good work on this, but does it resonate, So how do they do this? The usual
But large parts of the Conservative Party these days, within the wider Party? If it is wallpaper of conference speeches will be
have gone mad, seeming to prefer a diet happening among English conservatives pasted up this week in Manchester and
of nationalist revolution, pretending that beyond the offices of think tanks, I see little perhaps somewhere there will be kind
the impossible is possible, and doing so sign of it. thoughts. But for the most part tactical
in opposition to the instincts which have positioning is the limit of debate: cutting
so often led Conservatives: respect for “Thinking about conservatism student fees here and promising a wheeze
Parliament and the legal process; support in Britain, without thinking to build new homes there, in the hope it will
for the principle of the market and the about Brexit, is becoming make some voters happy.
concerns of business; and doubt about the ever harder.” Those old tricks have had their day.
politics of agitation. What is needed is a basic explanation of
We complain, as we should, that there What is being done to bring in support motives and ideas. Call this a vision if you
is nothing conservative about the manic and interest from beyond the confines of like, but when offering a vision, you need
pursuit of an imagined claim to enforce the the old, the angry and the frightened who an explanation of where it comes from and
will of the people. But saying this over and backed the Conservatives in 2017? Where how you think you can make it real.
over again, while therapeutic, will get the is the intelligence, the decency, the realism, So optimists in the Party should tell
rest of us nowhere. As grim as the glazed- the internationalism which, at its best, their story. They should describe how many
eyed Brexiteers may be, at least they are trimmed the Party’s excesses? The appeal of the best things in society — from good
doing what they believe. to the young, the tolerant and the positive? music to good housing, good jobs and
What, though, are we hearing from What kind of rogue Tory antibodies are good food — are the result of a freedom to
those who disagree? Able younger driving them from the bloodstream? make choices, spend and earn, protected
Conservatives with generous views and Perhaps this will continue. Perhaps the by government but not directed by it.
talent — the sort of people who actually Conservative Party is now driven by some They should tackle head on the canard
wanted the Big Society and were inner urge to be, and be considered, a that all the ills in the world can be solved
disappointed with Cameron when he party of reaction. Such a strand of thinking by government. This means retreating from
grew bored with it — seem silent, with the always existed within the Party. It has a right the lazy habit – which David Cameron
exception, in Scotland, of Ruth Davidson, to, in a democracy of many shades but few indulged more than anyone – of sending
and in London, of George Osborne, whose routes to power. But seldom has it come out ministers to make claims which start
bitterness goes beyond the personal and this close to capturing the citadel. ‘today I can announce’, setting targets, as
CONSERVATISM AT A CROSSROADS 9
>> if these could ever be real or the job of who exploit it. West Midlands, but where next? Who is
government was just to boss people around. Theresa May made a powerful claim in thinking about this?
But it also means something more: her conference speech last year for the good
offering a positive view of a free society that government can do. But where, next, “Well-run, well-regulated and
which accepts that trust in market is the conservative case for the good that well-defended independent
economics was damaged badly both by the government can’t do? organisations working for
2008 crash and the lack of consequences Yes, government can and should beat individual gain are the best
for those who caused it and who have up cheating businesses such as mobile route to a better, happier
benefited since. phone companies who hide their monthly country.”
People tell pollsters they want the charges behind a mass of add-ons and
railways nationalised, for instance, not impossible-to-navigate websites. But the Even the obvious need to coordinate
because they think socialism works but conservative voice in politics should also London’s suburban rail system under
because they think competition and the be encouraging not repelling investment in Transport for London has been rebuffed
profit motive are not being made to work businesses, such as utilities, from pension by those who want to keep the levers of
for them. They think the world has become funds who take a return to pay back the power in Whitehall. And what is being
less fair. This leaves Labour looking like the workers who have funded them. done to free up the centre, which now has
only party with alternative ideas. Liberals should be rushing, as they more departments with longer names than
Well-run, well-regulated and well- are not, to encourage open competition ever operating in even more ossified ways?
defended independent organisations by breaking up monopolies of power. This is not a call to let the market rip, but
working for individual gain are the best They should welcome, for instance, the to pull the state back in order to strengthen
route to a better, happier country. European Union’s stance on Google, just it in places, and direct its capabilities
This does not mean profit should as they ought to remind us that Margaret where it can actually do things no one else
always be the goal: the Big Society was an Thatcher’s support for the single market can. The environment is one example on
awkward phrase but at its core there was was right, and dependent on the proper, which the party seems to have been silent
a truth. Good public services and a free transnational enforcement of fair rules for years but clean air and conservatism
economy are not contradictions, but you to facilitate trade. Where do we hear should not be contradictions – and nor
can’t have everything everyone wants free conservative support for that principle? should ecological diversity be associated
forever on credit, and the only way you can They should also defend the idea that a as a cause with the left.
say this without appearing callous is to show free society requires relatively loose limits The current rush to build houses would
other ways in which things can be done. on the movement of people. They could meet less resistance if more respect was
Nor should this just be a cover for cuts speak out, for instance, on the obvious given to the sorts of places that are being
as it sometimes seemed in the past. Doing benefits of welcoming students who want built and how they look and will evolve. As
some things outside government is simply to come to Britain to study – and perhaps it is, objectors are often right to fear that
the best way. The National Trust saved settle, with their skills — but in return make fields will give way to soulless red brick.
the British coastline from development, for immigration checks real. In such things there needs to be a
instance, not local government planning Why, after years in which the Home revolution not only in action but in thinking.
officers. The Canals and Rivers Trust – Office has apparently been trying to crack What is missing is an optimistic decency, a
one of the coalition’s less controversial down on migration, do we still have a confidence in confronting those who want
creations – does a better job than the old border-control regime in which no border to narrow the world down.
state system. official checks passports when people Liberty can be threatened from the
So do the best private bus companies, leave the country? right as much as by the left. Conservatives
or shops: almost any example, in any At home there is scope to be bolder seem, at the moment, to be basing their
sector, can provide it. Parents like private about what is known, feebly, as public claim to power on the horror that Labour
charitable schools because they work. sector reform, but which has become would be even more damaging to Britain.
Yet no one now trusts the market to do stuck. Unexpected progress was made up Under Corbyn this may be true, but what
the right thing, or tries to explain why and to 2016 with devolution, which did start has the party come to if the first defence
when it works, or sets out the case for to challenge some centres of power and of Conservatism is the horror of the
managing it properly or punishing those produced Andy Street as Mayor of the alternative?
CONSERVATISM AT A CROSSROADS LETTER EXCHANGE 10
Time for more state? to play in developing an intelligent industrial strategy that will
help those areas that have been hit by economic dislocation to
economically renew, as well as ensuring that poorer areas have
David Skelton and Sam Bowman debate the skills and infrastructure to succeed. This is clearly something
that the market alone cannot do.
Regards, David
David Skelton is the founder Dear David,
of Renewal Long before most others, you understood the need for the
Conservatives to get out of their comfort zone and focus on
the wellbeing and dignity of ordinary workers. You have been
proved right.
Sam Bowman is executive director I agree with your diagnosis of the problem, and am troubled
of the Adam Smith Institute by the decoupling of economic growth and wage growth in
developed countries. Markets do not solve all problems, and can
work badly when the incentives and rules we create for them are
Dear Sam, wrong.
I’m a great fan of the work of you and your colleagues at the In the case of housing, that’s exactly what we’ve done with
Adam Smith Institute (ASI). You’re one of the most exciting green belts and urban planning rules, which make it very
think tanks around and have helped deliver some necessarily difficult to build in the places people want to live. Land-banking
provocative work on issues, like reforming our outmoded drug and other dysfunctions can only happen because supply is
laws. I’d hope you would agree that today’s political priorities constrained – houses are an investment good as well as being
aren’t about whether the state is a good or a bad thing, but how somewhere to live. How much of that is down to planning?
the state can nimbly be used for the good of citizens. Quite a lot: getting planning permission can raise the value of an
The results of both the referendum and the election had the acre from £2,500 to £2 million.
same root cause — too many people felt that they were shut out Social housing can make housing cheaper, but has serious
from economic growth. There is a real demand for economic problems in other respects and is not most people’s first choice.
reform and this involves a mature and balanced role for the state. Tokyo shows that the private sector, given better rules, can do
In too many cases, the market alone is failing to deliver a secure it: it absorbed three million people, had more housing starts in
economic future. Housing is the starkest example. The proportion 2014 than the whole of England and has some of the highest
of 25-34 year olds who are owner-occupiers has fallen from 54% building standards in the world, but has not seen any rise in
to 34% in just a decade. The market alone hasn’t even come house prices for decades. Planning laws are very permissive
close to solving the problem and there’s little evidence that a there with only light rules about land-use and height. Fixing
bonfire of planning controls would be a panacea. Instead, there’s this problem would also improve wages by making it easier for
a role for the state in pushing forward a scheme that will lead to people to move to where the jobs that are right for them are –
a new generation of low-rent homes, with a fast track to home Nobellist Ed Prescott estimates that freer planning laws in the
ownership. United States could make workers 12% richer. In my opinion,
the gains may be even larger in the UK.
“The results of both the referendum and We agree about the need to create more meaningful jobs
the election had the same root cause - for people. Our corporation tax system penalises investment
too many people felt that they were shut in machinery and property, a problem made worse by George
out from economic growth.” Osborne’s cuts to capital allowances to pay for his headline
corporation tax rate cut. Fixing this, so the system does not tax
It’s hard to see how those deindustrialised areas that voted businesses that invest in their workers, will not win many votes
most emphatically for Brexit will be economically transformed – but the high-quality jobs it creates just might.
if the state merely stepped out of the way. The state has a role Regards, SamCONSERVATISM AT A CROSSROADS LETTER EXCHANGE 11
Hi Sam, Dear David,
Thanks for the kind words. I think we both agree that there's no Yes, land is in fixed supply – but it is not simply land that we're
future for an orthodox and safety-first conservatism that doesn't short of right now, it is ’developable’ land. Only 2.27% of
adapt to a changing environment. A new political offer needs England is built on, but we have not been able to expand more
to be bold and ambitious, and you and the ASI are playing an because of planning rules. Freeing up just 4% of London’s
important role in creating part of that. Green Belt around existing railway stations would give us room
On housebuilding, I agree with you that some planning for one million new homes.
restrictions are holding back housebuilding and we agree There are three related problems with building more social
that housing is expensive because land is expensive. But I housing. The first is that, historically, social housing has often
can't see a pure market solution solving the problem. been of poor quality and been neglected by government after
Land is inherently scarce and fixed — you can’t create more being built. Governments of both stripes have found it easy to
land like you can create new shoes if the price of shoes goes up. ignore people who live in social housing.
This is what [Karl] Polanyi meant when he called land a ‘fictitious
commodity’ and what Mark Twain meant with his quip, "buy land, “For my part, the great challenge
they're not making it any more." This, combined with endless is to persuade other free marketeers
demand because of easy credit, means market supply can that redistribution, done right, is
never perfectly keep up with demand, no matter how much you nothing to be afraid of.”
liberalise planning.
Even before we had a planning system in England, The second is that almost nobody actually wants to live
we had similar problems with land banking and speculation in social housing. The Joseph Rountree Foundation found
driving housing costs beyond the reach of ordinary people. that only 8% of Brits wanted to live in socially rented housing,
The 1947 Planning Act isn't perfect, but it's not realistic as opposed to 84% who would like to own. We should listen
to assume that all of our problems somehow go back to them.
to it. The third is that, politically, raising the tens of billions of pounds
A more pragmatic and workable solution would be for the in tax necessary to build enough houses seems impossible. People
Government to work to provide a good supply of homes for those are willing to pay for a mortgage because they will own something
who are permanently shut out of the housing market, along with at the end of it – getting them to accept a higher tax bill to pay for
a fast track to home ownership, so that the dream of a property- the government to build and own new houses seems impossible
owning democracy can be revived. The alternative to this is even if it was desirable.
rapidly escalating Housing Benefit bills or rent controls - both of I would suggest, instead, a system where local government is
which I'm sure you'll agree are sub-optimal. I'd rather the state allowed to capture some or all of the uplift in land value that takes
helped provide the homes we badly need rather than spending place when planning permission is granted through auctions or
billions on a state subsidy to landlords through Housing Benefit. some other mechanism. I am sympathetic to the idea of workers
There's also a strong case to end the advantageous credit and being given a stake in their firms – it would be a lot better than
tax position of buy-to-let landlords. putting workers on boards, which can do great damage to a
Your ideas about reinvigorating the economy are really company’s internal governance, as the Financial Times showed
interesting. And, as you say, the decoupling of wage growth and with Volkswagen.
economic growth is a major challenge. I'd love to see more firms For my part, the great challenge is to persuade other free
give their workers capital in their companies as the divergence marketeers that redistribution, done right, is nothing to be afraid of.
between labour and capital has been stark in recent years. And I want a generous, broad-based redistribution policy that’s on in-
I think it's also important that firms do what they can to pay the work and family benefits, combined with regulatory reform focused
voluntary Living Wage. I think we'd both agree that an economy on growth – a ‘Hayekian welfare state’, you might call it, that tries
that creates high-skilled, secure jobs and an education system to use free markets to grow the size of the pie, and use the state
that gives people the skills to thrive is the way to ensure wage to redistribute it to those who’ve missed out afterwards. There is a
growth over the longer term. role for the state, but we must be aware of its limitations too.
Regards, David Regards, SamCONSERVATISM AT A CROSSROADS 12
Syed Kamall MEP
Brexit together is Co-Chair of the
European Conservatives
and Reformists Group
Syed Kamall MEP explores how best to unite ‘Leave’ and
‘Remain’ Conservatives
A
s we gather as a Party for this to lead us through these historic negotiations. And let’s agree that we must be modest,
conference, wounds from last We all have our differences in how exactly too. As conservatives we must remember
year’s European Union referendum we define conservatism, reflecting the old that it is proper for government to be limited.
are still healing. Lines were drawn. cliché about our Party being a broad church. That the secret of Britain’s success has
Reputations staked, on either side. Now But whatever else, when the chips are down, always been to trust its citizens.
that the people have spoken and the to be Conservative is to stand firm and hold
negotiation clock is ticking, as a Party we the line. As Conservatives, we must be strong “Take a moment this
have one job. To put aside differences and enough to put aside personal rivalries for the conference season to
then stand together, fighting for Britain’s common good. stand back from the messy
best interests. In this, the Prime Minister is an object business of politics.”
While a minority of those who voted lesson. Mrs May was no Brexiteer, but she
Remain need more time to come to terms accepted the referendum result and stepped As a London MEP, one of the most
with the result, it is heartening that most of forward to serve her country. And when rewarding parts of my job has been the
my Remain friends respect the democratic the margin of our election victory proved opportunity to support grassroots charities.
will of the British people to leave the EU. disappointing, she did not run from her post Groups that are out there making a
Similarly, while a minority of those who but kept steady at the helm. difference in the lives of those who need it
voted Leave want to get out now — without Because the Prime Minister appreciates the most. They’re not waiting for the state
any deal — most of my Leave friends that the real prize here is not votes or seats. to do the job. They’re stepping up because
understand the need for patient negotiations It is our country’s future. When the smoke they see something that needs to be done.
to achieve a new, better and more honest and clamour of Brexit fades, and we all have Britain’s civil society should be a source
relationship between the UK and the EU. had time to recover from the fray, how will of tremendous pride to our country. And as
things stand in the streets of our towns and conservatives we should do all we can to
“It won’t always be cities, and in the villages and fields of our encourage it.
comfortable or easy, but countryside, and out at sea on our fishing Whatever we do, the world will be
at this moment, we have a boats and merchant ships? watching. And not just the world. History,
duty to unite.” So let’s come together and agree that once again, has its eye on our island.
we want to see a prosperous, thriving, Take a moment this conference season
Fortunately, there is a common outward-looking post-Brexit UK trading and to stand back from the messy business
understanding that the challenge of our cooperating with a prospering EU, and open of politics. Ask yourself, when the books
political lives is before us: securing Brexit, to the best talent from across the globe, not of these years are written, what will they
embracing the opportunities of life outside just the EU. say we achieved? What names will be
the EU and delivering the prosperity Let’s agree on being ambitious. Ambitious picked out, and what for? Will they say
and security for our country in a time of in seeking new trade deals overseas. we let faction come between us? Or will
tremendous change. Ambitious close to home on the issues they write that after decades of letting
It won’t always be comfortable or easy, that matter: securing economic growth that the issue of Europe divide and weaken
but at this moment, we have a duty to unite. benefits everyone; delivering sustainable, us, when our country called, we stood
The country has voted for Brexit, and it has world-class healthcare; helping new together?
voted for a government led by Theresa May generations into home ownership. It’s up to us. Let’s do the right thing.13
Ready, willing and able?
Can the UK labour force meet demand after Brexit?
By Kevin Green and EU workers about the effect the Brexit • ensure there are provisions for
Chief Executive, Recruitment vote has already had and the impact temporary workers including a
& Employment Confederation changes to immigration rules might have seasonal workers scheme
going forward.
• not overestimate the potential for
There is anxiety from all sides as employers either British workers or automation
In the sectors most reliant on EU workers, to fill the labour gap caused by a fall in
consider scaling down or relocating,
recruiting to meet demand is already net migration
workers from the EU feel unable to plan
a huge challenge. The number of EU
their future here and British workers • minimise the uncertainty that is already
nationals applying for roles in the UK is
recognise that their workplaces would deterring EU nationals from working in
already falling as fewer decide to make the
struggle without their EU colleagues. the UK as well as ensuring EU workers
move here and more decide to leave.
feel welcome here.
That’s why we are asking
Our latest report, which is part of a series
the government to:
to inform the immigration debate, looks
at the agriculture, food manufacturing, • not set a blanket salary threshold for Read the REC’s new report at
warehousing and hospitality industries, EU migrants wishing to work in the www.rec.uk.com/brexit
asking employers, recruiters and British UK after Brexit
• Recruitment’s biggest lobbying voice
• The source of recruitment knowledge
Ready, willing and able? | Can the UK labour force meet demand after Brexit?
• Raising recruitment standards
• Developing successful careers in recruitment
• Exceeding members’ expectations through business support.
Jobs transform lives, which is why we are building the best recruitment
industry in the world. As the professional body for recruitment, we’re
determined to make businesses more successful by helping them secure SEPTEMBER 2017
the people they need.
We are absolutely passionate and totally committed in this pursuit
for recruiters, employers, and the people they hire.
Find out more about the Recruitment & Employment Confederation
Ready, willing JUNE
Buildin
2017
at www.rec.uk.com
ration
and able? Immig g the Post-
g mig pports
2017
JUNE ration Br
Syste exit
Recruitment & Employment Confederation
Dorset House
n a g in Can the UK labour force An an
Ma t su alysis
First Floor
ay tha t success m
27–45 Stamford Street
of sho
meet demand after Brexit? rt
in a w
London SE1 9NT
Indepe ages, sc
Tel: 020 7009 2100
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ndent
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Fax: 020 7935 4112 Fragom alysis by th
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@recpress www.rec.uk.com 020 7009 2100CONSERVATISM AT A CROSSROADS 14
The challenges
T
he Labour Party have always tried to present the
Conservatives as being cold and heartless and that is
facing conservatism something that we have to rebut very, very strongly at every
stage that it is suggested. Whenever we are in receipt of silly and
nasty campaigning, we have to call it out.
Victoria Atkins MP
Member of Parliament for Louth and Horncastle
A
cross the West people are being made to feel that our lives
have never been so bad. Although we face challenges, we
have never been so been so healthy and educated. Most of
us are lucky enough to have seen more and will see more and have
much broader experiences than our parents and grandparents. The
challenge in our society is to unleash all that store of experience,
knowledge and really put it to work. Without being too American
about it: ‘not to ask what your country can do for you; to ask what
you can do for your country’.
Rory Stewart OBE MP
Minister of State for Africa
T
he Conservatives need to find a way to reach out to both
“One of the reasons I got the voters in Harlow and Kensington. Part of our problem
is we’ve often focused on one group over the other;
involved in politics was to sometimes we’ve been the metropolitan party, sometimes the
achieve the eradication of workers’ party. The best years were in 2014-15 when we managed
poverty. I had friends who to get a fusion of both sides. We need to pick a raft of policies that
metropolitan professionals like, and also Harlow man or Mansfield
had outside lavatories. We woman like also.
have made huge advances. The Rt Hon Robert Halfon MP
Chair of the Education Select Committee
That eradication of poverty
can only be delivered
through compassionate
T
he speed of technological change is more pervasive and
capitalism. So our biggest faster moving than other great historic changes which the
challenge is to see off Party has survived. The younger generation are embracing
these changes and practices in their everyday lives, in ways
socialism and Jeremy and on a scale that increasingly separates them from elder
Corbyn by making the generations. At the heart of this dilemma is the proposal to sever
our relationship with our European partners. This is a negation of
case for caring and British self-interest. It flies in the face of all our historic experience
compassionate capitalism.” and defies the advice of every Conservative Prime Minister since
Winston Churchill.
The Rt Hon Anna Soubry MP The Rt Hon Lord Heseltine
Member of Parliament for Broxtowe Former Deputy Prime MinisterCONSERVATISM AT A CROSSROADS 15
T
“Young people today feel increasingly he challenge facing conservatism today
locked out of the housing market - with is threefold. Firstly, how to make Brexit
a moment of electrifying domestic
home ownership a distant dream. It’s national renewal which inspires even those
not just an economic challenge, but the who didn't vote for it. Secondly, to signal
that we understand the fatigue in our public
biggest barrier to social progress in services with public sector austerity, and set
Britain today. That’s why I’m absolutely out a more inspiring next phase of balancing
determined to fix our broken housing the public finances based on incentives and
rewards for our best public sector leaders
market - so that young people under 40 who deliver productivity and support economic
can feel more secure when renting, or growth. And thirdly, we need to reconnect with
the under 40s and millennials who are growing
make their home ownership dreams a ever more disillusioned with capitalism and
reality.” conservatism. Unless we think seriously about
bold reforms in these three areas I fear there
The Rt Hon Sajid Javid MP is a real risk of a Corbyn victory at the next
Secretary of State for the Department of Communities election, whenever it is.
and Local Government George Freeman MP
Chair of the Conservative Policy Forum
C I
onservatism means preserving what’s good from the past. f you have a generation who have not had a chance to acquire
The challenge is providing evolutionary conservatism that capital, whether it’s in homes or in savings, then why do we
keeps up with fast-paced technological changes, whilst assume they think capitalism is a good idea? So for me the
preserving the best principles from the past. It’s about learning biggest challenge is more about the fundamental conversation
new technologies and embracing an internationalist outlook in about capitalism and socialism in the UK at the moment.
order to make the most of the opportunities. Claire Perry MP
Luke Graham MP Minister of State for Climate Change
Member of Parliament for Ochil and South Perthshire and Industry
“We need to be more confident
I
worry that the distraction of Brexit is preventing us from realising
that there are few countries in the world that can step forward in showing our commitment to
as a force for good, that have the soft power that we have. decarbonise and tackle climate
We’re in danger of encouraging a younger generation to forget
the important role Britain plays in the UN Security Council, the change. Millennials don’t think
Commonwealth and NATO. And that Britain is one of the few there is a debate left to be had
that can step forward to challenge the inappropriate, illegal and
dictatorial behaviour around the world.
on this. They simply want to
The Rt Hon Tobias Ellwood MP see bold action for a cleaner,
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for
Defence People and Veterans
greener future.”
James Heappey MP Member of Parliament for WellsSUCCESSFUL CONSERVATISM 16
The Rt Hon Lord Willetts
Her secret... is the Executive Chair
of the Resolution
Foundation and was
What can conservatives today learn from the late Lady Thatcher? The previously Minister for
Rt Hon Lord Willetts tells us Universities and Science
M
argaret Thatcher appears high unconventional advisers who provided the BBC. Her clinching objection
up most lists of great Prime essential stimulus and challenge. But she was along the lines of: “it would be
Ministers. She transformed would also accept, albeit reluctantly and very tiresome if every programme was
Britain and many of us believe it was for after intense dispute, realistic advice on interrupted by advertisements.” In the
the better. She raised the growth rate what could or could not be done. Policy Unit we worked up ambitious plans
of a mature Western economy which She had a guiding set of beliefs. I said about, for example, means-testing child
is exceptionally hard to do. More than to her once how we needed ‘laissez- benefit and, whilst she encouraged that
that, she gave us back our national faire’ and she looked at me sternly and kind of work and she could see the case
pride. The Falklands War together with said: “No. Ordered liberty”. I think she for change, she rejected it because she
her partnership with President Ronald objected not just because it was French did not want families with children to lose
Reagan and the collapse of the Soviet but also because she had a deeper out relative to other groups.
Union meant that the West and our objection. She understood that of course
values were advancing not retreating. freedom and free markets were essential “Margaret Thatcher put
For me the most moving moment at her but so were the ties of community and our country on a different
funeral was when the great West doors effective national government which path which gave us rising
of St Paul’s were opened for her coffin made it possible for us to enjoy these prosperity and national
to be carried out and I heard shouting. freedoms. pride for the next thirty
I worked for her in the mid Eighties She never really recovered after she years.”
and was used to protests and jeering left office. Without the framework of
wherever she went, but these were disciplined professional advice around She was fundamentally a believer in
cheers: I felt it was a kind of vindication. her, and with her deep unhappiness expanding opportunities. That is why one
about what had happened, she set out of the features of privatisation she was
“There was the blend of views increasingly different from what most keen on was the spread of personal
clear strategic direction she had said and done in office. Maybe share ownership. We forget now how
and then pragmatism.” that later Margaret Thatcher was the controversial council house sales were
authentic one but I am not so sure. As a within the Conservative Party – people
How did she achieve it? There are guide to what conservatives do and why I who were not socially the usual type
of course her personal qualities. I was prefer Margaret Thatcher in government, of owner-occupier were going to get a
a foot soldier, serving in the Number I believe it contains some important house without saving for years with a
10 Policy Unit and she was one of the lessons for conservatives today. building society to get a mortgage. Tory
most effective people I have ever worked First, there was the blend of clear critics thought this was undermining
with. She worked hard and purposefully. strategic direction and then, yes, prudence and rewards to saving. She
She had the capacity both to look close pragmatism. Sometimes it was reluctant closed more grammar schools than any
up at the tactics around a problem and and she conveniently blamed ministerial other Education Secretary and launched
at the same time never to lose sight colleagues but they were often the ambitious plans for university expansion
to the strategic direction in which she alibi for her own shrewd assessment of because she wanted more people to stay
wanted to take the country. She drew what was feasible or not. I remember a on at school and get to university. For the
on an awkward squad of free-thinking conversation with her about privatising same reason she fought a strong battleSUCCESSFUL CONSERVATISM 17
>> to save the infant Open University during the development of the single and there was no need for uniformity.
when she was Education Secretary. market. It was a project shaped by a That turned her against the project but
She loved the way the dynamism of free British free-market agenda. The French none of that alters the fact that she
markets extended everything from foreign were right to see it as an Anglo-Saxon strongly believed in the original project.
travel to property ownership to more attempt to use the EU to open up Indeed it was crucial to her economic
people and she wanted public policy to markets. She was crucial in driving it policy: opening up British markets to
do the same too. forward. She was even willing to make more competition from Europe forced us
the unprecedented move of shifting from to raise our game.
“She was fundamentally unanimity to majority voting to make it Britain hit its post-war low point with
a believer in expanding work. She felt betrayed when Jacques the humiliations of the IMF bail-out of
opportunities.” Delors used majority voting to push 1976 and the Winter of Discontent of
through social policy regulations which 1979. Margaret Thatcher turned it round
And then there is finally that most she never thought should be part of a and put our country on a different path
fraught issue for our Party and our single market – competition between which gave us rising prosperity and
country – the EU. I was working for her different social models was a good thing national pride for the next thirty years.
Fighting for Freedom?
Sir Michael Tugendhat
Conservative writers and politicians have been influential
in the development of human rights in the UK for
centuries. Sir Winston Churchill made the enthronement
of human rights a war aim, which was achieved by the
founding of the European Convention on Human Rights
(ECHR). It was a Conservative MP in 1968 who was
the first to campaign for incorporating the ECHR into
UK statute law, which would eventually be realised with
Fighting for the introduction of the Human Rights Act (HRA) 1998.
freedom?
The historic and future relationship However, Conservatives today are sceptical of the HRA.
between conservatism and human rights
The current Government has promised to review the
Sir Michael Tugendhat
UK’s future human rights legal framework after Brexit.
This report outlines and assesses different options
for reform, concluding that Conservatives should be
supporters of the HRA and ECHR.SUCCESSFUL CONSERVATISM 18
Kate Maltby is a columnist,
Beware Corbyn arts critic and Associate
Fellow of Bright Blue
Kate Maltby suggests how best to counter modern socialism
W
hen I was 16 and ineffectually that Corbyn would make a better Prime after hustings of Tory candidates railing
precocious, I interviewed Ann Minister than Theresa May (compared to against Jeremy Corbyn’s friendships with
Widdecombe for my school 17% for May, with 26% ‘don’t knows’). In various unpleasant groups in the 1980s,
newspaper. I asked her what had drawn overall voting intention, Labour lead the ‘committees’ and ‘syndicates’ with slogans
her to conservative politics and she was Conservatives by a 1% gap, and in every drawn from Eastern European philosophers
characteristically clear: “I wanted to fight age group except for the over 65s. of whom British voters haven’t heard and
socialism, passionately. Your generation But the Conservatives won’t be able to about whom they don’t care. Mention that
doesn’t realise it now, but socialism was a rely on even that over 65 age group in the Jeremy Corbyn has defended the economic
real and present danger when I was young.” future. In the past, each generation has policies of Pavil Postyshev, and they won’t
Even as a teenager, I understood become more likely to vote Conservative remember mass starvation in Soviet Russia
immediately what she meant. I had grown as they get older. CCHQ polling shows – they’ll ask why there are food banks
up on stories of Eastern European relatives that for the next generation of pensioners, in Britain here and now. Political party
trapped behind the Iron Curtain: homes, that is no longer the case. Old age no broadcasts about the failures of Soviet
jobs, rights of conscience dispensed only longer functions as a mystic car-wash that central planning have the uncomfortable
by corrupt bureaucratic fiat. But for most descends on voters in their sixties and feel of too many History Channel
of my millennial peers, the admonition from dissolves to reveal a production line of new documentaries about the Holocaust:
a helmet-haired Tory to vanquish socialism Conservative voters. absolutely necessary, morally right and yet
was met with full-on derision. The Cold Why aren’t we turning Tory as we age? through the alchemy of overfamiliarity and
War was yesterday’s struggle; “socialism” One answer is that British voters are having distance rendered toothless. The more
was something vague and nostalgic about to wait longer in their lives to accumulate often we are told “Never Again”, the more
the Labour Party which Tony Blair didn’t significant personal capital — because it’s tempted we become to forget.
like (and therefore teenagers did). It was all but impossible to get onto the housing To combat a full-throttle, retro-rinse
romantic, abstract and utterly removed from ladder. Socialism is less threatening when Cold War socialist in 2017, it’s not enough
anyone’s political concerns in 2002. it’s not your wealth being redistributed. for the Tories to replay slogans that won
Fifteen years on, the Tories are still Or, as I’ve written before, you can’t be a the Cold War in the 1980s. Jeremy Corbyn
doing a bad job of explaining to millennials capitalist if you don’t have any capital. has been attacked left, right and centre
why socialism isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. Another part of the answer is that a as a personality, but the penny-by-penny
But the stakes are higher. As Widdecombe generation of Britons is reaching late impact of his policies on our contemporary
pointed out the direct state control wasn’t adulthood without a concrete memory of economy has evaded scrutiny. It doesn’t
“a clear and present danger” to the British what socialism really looked like in Eastern help that his policies shift on the sands –
economy at the turn of the millennium. It is Europe. The suppression of the resistance direct economic promises from the Labour
now. To call Jeremy Corbyn a socialist isn’t in the Prague Spring is now 49 years ago, Party remain a moving target. But the Tories
a reactionary smear: it’s a direct quotation the massacre of Hungarian anti-Soviet will need to rise to that challenge. Nor is
of the self-described principles of the protestors a full 61 years back. it enough to warn that socialism leads to
leader of the Labour Party. And he’s doing It’s not like Tory candidates didn’t economic disaster. In a time of continued
well, especially amongst young people. mention the S-word during this year’s economic distress, conservatives will have
Dangerously well. In an August survey disastrous snap election campaign. to prove all over again that capitalism offers
by YouGov, 56% of voters under 24 stated On the contrary, I sat through hustings something better.You can also read
